Bring the Constitution back to basics

March 29, 2012

In the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths,” perhaps should read, “These truths hold us.”

Much debate is occurring, and rightly so, as to whether our sacred Constitution is in dire need of change or amendments to bring us up to date with the extreme changes that have occurred in our so-called democracy under the present system.

Our Constitution, adopted in 1787, was not all-inclusive to begin with, sanctioning slavery and ignoring Native American rights in the concept of the new nation. Although our founding fathers studied the ancients and read the classics of Greek and Roman civilizations, giving them many insights into our human natures—which is more than can be said for many of our present day cronies of capital in elected positions—their Constitution was before industrialization and reflects nothing of its impact on society, focusing instead on agriculture, artisans and craftsmen associated with this elementary stage of human development.

Equality and inalienable rights were defined and elaborated; however, these two concepts have been left unfulfilled, or somehow the words themselves have been substituted for their reality. Lack of health care reform and political campaign contributions by large corporate lobbies are just two examples of this outdated mode of a contract with the people. Most important, however, is now the very planet and the human species themselves are in danger because of all this unequal and unwholesome progress. The organic nature of life itself has been replaced by money. Some have so much of it as to preside over something in the nature of demise of Constitutional government; they aspire through their privilege to be rid of all government in the name of the Constitution’s freedoms—but really for themselves. This is the tyranny of the few and the uneducated: the one percent. Our country is in need of a new Constitution, one that re-establishes our humanity.